A pioneering initiative launched in 2023 is spreading across the UK, with more participants than ever signing up for last week’s launch.
The Bloxham Sustainability Challgen [BSC] takes its name from Bloxham School in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Delivered through a partnership with Dalcour Maclaren and ESRI UK, the idea is to bring students, environmental consultants, and geospatial technology experts to encourage young people to consider careers in sustainability once they leave education.
2025’s iteration launched on Friday 19th September with an event at the Royal Geographical Society in London. 70 students were in attendance, with the ceremony live-streamed across all campuses taking part. This includes Rochdale Sixth Form College in Greater Manchester, Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, Kent, and Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeenshire.
Live demonstrations, networking lunches with sustainability professionals and collaborative learning exercises all featured on the programme. Meanwhile, Naomi Davis, the Department for Education’s Youth Sustainability Champion, delivered a keynote speech, with pupils attending a networking lunch with Dalcour Maclaren Degree Apprentices. It is hoped some of those in attendance will help close a significant skills gap in Britain’s climate and environmental sectors, with demand for trained professionals rising by almost 10% in 2024 alone.
‘This initiative is all about creating meaningful educational experiences that prepare students for future employment once they complete their studies,’ said Claire Evans, Head of Geography at Bloxham School and co-creator of the Challenge. ‘Most young people are unaware of the career paths they could be pursuing in sustainability and green jobs of the future, so the BSC helps address this by providing opportunities for highly engaging, student-led learning experiences with a real-world focus.’
Image: Bloxham Sustainability Challenge
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